British Pakistani Christians to protest after Peshawar church bombing

Pakistani Christian worshippers, some of them who survived Sunday's suicide bombing, pray during a special mass for the victims of the bombing, at the Church where the attack took place, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Monday, Sept. 23, 2013. Angry Pakistani Christians denounced the deadliest attack ever in this country against members of their faith. A pair of suicide bombers blew themselves up amid hundreds of worshippers outside a historic church in northwestern Pakistan.

British Pakistani Christians were due to protest in London on Tuesday to express their frustration over the Pakistani government's failure to protect minority Christians.

It comes after Sunday's deadly twin suicide bombing outside All Saints' church in Peshawar in which at least 80 people were killed as they exited from Sunday Mass.

The protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in London was organised by the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) to put pressure on the Pakistani government to ensure Christians are protected.

They were to follow up the protest with the delivery of a petition to 10 Downing Street asking that the UK government step in to help Christians in Pakistan.

Similar protests have been taking place across Pakistan, where only around 1.6 per cent of the population is believed to be Christian.

The BPCA represents Christians of Pakistani origin in the UK, many of whom fled Pakistan to escape the violence and intimidation they faced there.

Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the BPCA, said: "This is one of the worst attacks on Christians in Pakistan we have ever seen. Many people have died and many have been seriously injured, but still nothing is done by the Pakistan government to prevent such attacks - which are becoming more and more frequent. We have organised this protest outside the High Commission to highlight the desperate plight of Christians in Pakistan and the constant threat of violence they face on a daily basis. "

He urged Pakistan to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

"Many British Pakistani Christians still have close family ties in Pakistan and are continuously worried about the safety of their loved ones," he continued.

"We hope the Pakistan government will finally take note of the horrifying violence Christians must live with and more importantly take strong action to stop it.

"Those guilty of orchestrating this horrendous crime should be tried and punished. In addition, the government must provide greater security for Christians across Pakistan and reassure them that their way of life is not in danger."